The Silent Accused: Mark 14:53-65

They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders, and teachers of the law assembled. Peter followed at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest, where he sat with the guards, warming himself at the fire.

Inside, the trial was a travesty. The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. Many testified falsely, but their statements did not agree.

Finally some stood up and gave false testimony: "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.'"

Even then their testimony did not agree. The accusation twisted his words—he had spoken of his body, not the building—but the witnesses could not coordinate their lies.